Big Regatta On Way To Area

In an attempt to showcase Hampton Roads and draw attention to sailing, the cities of Hampton and Norfolk will serve as hosts for the Olympic Classes Regatta at Hampton Roads from May 6-8, 1994.

The regatta will feature Olympic boats such as Stars, Solings, Tornado catamarans, 470s, Lasers, Europe Dinghies, Boardboats and Finns, as well as local classes, which feature Hamptons and J-24 boats.

Allen Kilgore, who is on the race committee, said the race is expected to draw between 150 and 200 competitors from all over the world.

The boardboat or windsurfing events will be held off of Buckroe Beach, and the Stars and Solings races will take place over the Hampton Flats near LaSalle Avenue.

``We want to provide an environment or facility to help U.S. sailors to better their training for the Olympics,'' said Kilgore, a former Olympic competitor.

The sailing events in the 1996 Summer Olympic Games will be held a few miles outside of Savannah, Ga. Kilgore said the weather and water conditions surrounding Hampton Roads are similar to those in Savannah.

``The weather is hot, there are light winds and in-land waters. We figure we have the ideal area to train,'' Kilgore said.

The Tornado catamarans are tentatively scheduled to compete in Willoughby Bay. The Finn and Lasers events will be held off of Craney Island.

The women's Europe Dinghy and the men's and women's 470s will race on the Elizabeth River. Old Dominion's Kim Logan is expected to compete in the Europe Dinghy race.

Although the regatta doesn't have an effect on 1996 Olympic status, the race will serve as the Atlantic Coast Championships in the Europe Dinghy and Finn classes.

Because the event will attract from 150 to 200 sailors, ODU sailing coach and race committee member K.C. Fullmer plans to institute an ``Adopt-a-Sailor'' program, in which area residents would house and feed competitors.

``I thought it would be a great idea to introduce the community to Olympic-caliber athletes,'' Fullmer said. ``We anticipate great participation.''

Kilgore said the race is contracted through the U.S. Sailing Association and the regatta's executive board, which is headed by Riley Johnson, to run in Hampton Roads through 1996.

Kilgore said most of the areas where the races will be taking place are close to shorelines, so spectators will be able to view the events. The executive committee is also looking into providing spectator boats, which would allow people to view the race from the water, Kilgore said. So far, the use of one boat has been donated by Atlantic Yacht Basin for media use.

If you are interested in adopting a sailor during the Olympic Classes Regatta at Hampton Roads, you may call:

Allen Kilgore - 864-5033 or 851-4413, or Eleanor McCoy - 627-9881.

If you are not able to house a sailor, but would like to help, donations will be accepted and are tax-deductible. Make checks payable to U.S. Sailing, and put ``OCR at HRD'' in the memo section of the check. Mail checks payable to Olympic Classes Regatta at Hampton Roads, P.O. Box 3248, Norfolk, Va., 23514.